Collision unit



J. L. ELAM COLLISION UNIT..

July 14, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 9, 1950 3 Sheets-Shet 2 ii 5 i if Q w i .1? 5 ,HMm?QMHHMQ m z July 14, 1953 Original Filed Dec,. 9,

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. L- ELAM COLLISION UNIT July 14, 19 53 Original Filed Dec. 9, 1950 17? Jrz for -7$5 L. Elam Patented July 14, 1953 COLLISION UNIT Jess L. Elam, Chicago, Ill. assignor to Builders Ornamental Iron Company, Chicago, Ill.; a corporation of Illinois Original application December-.9, 1950, Serial No.

200,005. Divided and this application Septemher 26, 1951,.Serial No. 248.391

1 This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 200,005, filed December 9, 1950.

This invention relates to an apparatus for straightening the frames, axles and related de vices of automotive vehicles and the like.

The apparatus of this kind that hasbeen used heretofore has included-elongated runways onto which the vehicle could be passed to be supported Claims. (Cl. 15332) 2 consider to be the best mode in which I have c'ontemplatedapplying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present'invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

while work was performed thereon, the apparatus Fig. 1 is a plan view of my novel apparatus disclosed in the United States patent to Scherer m nted in a pit d i hi h t i parts are No. 2,008,929, being typical of such apparatus. broken away; Su pp us equ d considerable floor Space Fig. 2 is a vertical front view taken substanin the garage or the like where it was employed tially on the line 2-2 onFig l'; and was subject to other objections. Therefore, Fig. 3is a vertical side view taken-substantially an important object of my invention is to provide on the line 3-3 on Fig. 1; a novel apparatus of the aforesaid character that Fig; 4 is a plan view of one side of my novel will require relatively little floor space in a garage apparatus, this view being drawn to alarger scale or the like, and an object ancilliary to this is to than Fi 1; provide an apparatus of the aforesaid character Fig. 5 is a plan view taken substantially on that may be mounted in a pit in such a way that the line 55on Fig. 3; t marginal portions of T1001 about the P Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view may be utilized for supp rt ng at l ast a pa 0! taken substantially on the line li6on Fig. 4; the automotive vehicle upon which work is to V Fig; 7 is a fragmentary detail view taken subperformed. stantially on the line 1-1 on Fig. 5; and

Among the objects of this invention are to Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view taken substanprovide a suitable support for devices that are tially on the line 88 on Fig. 6. emp y wh n h c mb r n n n h My novel apparatus asillustrated in the aclike of the front wheels of an automotive vehicle c mp n in d awings, i i t d d t b e i are be iusted so that such wheels will be a pit as P, the apparatus being mounted on this p p 'y Supported when the adjustment is to pit in such position as to have the runways therebe eiiected; to afford aplatform on which toeon, which are describedhereinafter, in horizontal in gauges or the like may be mounted; and" to alignment with the marginal portion of the floor afi'ord clamping arrangement which will effec about the pit, P, tively clamp cross members of an apparatus of 5 As shown, my apparatus includes two spaced the aforesaid character to the side frame memapart side frame members M' and N which have bers thereof, and an object ancillary to this is the forward end portions thereof supported by to utilize a removable arrangement of this'charthe columns C and D which are described in deacter; to so arrange an apparatus of'the aforetail hereinafter. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 7, said character that a cross member such as that n the side frame member M at the right-hand side disclosed in my co-pendi-ng application, Serial No. of my apparatuses it is viewed in Fig. 2, com- 200,004, filed December 9, 1950, may be mounted prises two channel iron members [6 and I! which directlybeneath the front axle of an automotive have the flanges thereof directed outwardly. A vehicle when the front wh els of such a vehicle plate H! is welded or otherwise suitably secured to are disposed on t Supp provided therefor adjacent faces of the channels l6 and 11 at the in y pp to provide n apparatus upper edges thereof and extends substantially of the aforesaid character that isof simple and throughout the length of these channels. economical construction and which will be effi- Th column isdisposed between the channel Clem-a d po t Operation members It and t1 inwardly of the forward Other and further-objects ofthe present inven- 59 ends thereof this post inchldes an upright tion Will be pp from the following descripe channel iron member I0- which is fitted between tion and claims and are illustratedin the aecomand welded to adjacent faces of the members l6 panying drawings which, by way of illustration, and I1: inwardly of the forward ends thereof. show apreferred embodiment of the present in- As-best shown inFig. 2, the channel It extends vention andthe principlethereofand whatI now from the bottom of the pit P upwardly above 3 channel members Hi and l! to the top of the column C. A shoe H at the lower end of the channel I!) is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the bottom of the pit P. The column C also includes a channel iron member l2 which also extends between adjacent faces of the channels 16 and H, this channel i2 extend ing fromv the lower edges of the channel members it and I! to the top of the column. As in the instance of the channel ID, the channels I6 and I! are respectively welded to adjacent por tions of the channel member [2. in Fig. 5, the flanges of the channels and 12 respectively extend toward each other but terminate in spaced relation one with the other. The column also includes two additional upright channel irons l3 and M which have the flanges ther of directed toward each other. The lower end of the channel suitably secured to the upper edge of the channel member I! and the flanges thereof respectively extend to and are welded to portions of the channel members In and I2. The flanges of the channel member l4 extend to and are also the welded to portions of the channels l0 and I2 and the lower end thereof rests on and is welded to the upper edge of the channel Hi.

The rear ends of the side frame members l5 As best shownvertical center planes of the side frame members are spaced apart approximately fifty inches and the bridge plates are moved outwardly to the outermost positions thereof, they are spaced apart sufficiently to enable a vehicle having a tread of ,as -much as seventy one inches in width .to-be supported on the runways afforded by the bridge plates. The bridge plates are also movable inwardly from the aforesaid intermediate position thereof to an inner position like that shown in broken lines in Fig. 8. When the .vertical center planes of the side frame mem- I3 is welded or otherwise w and l I are supported by another column E which 7 comprises an upright channel I9, Fig. 5, that is disposed between and welded to adjacent faces of the channel members It and H at the rear ends thereof. This channel I9 includes a shoe above-described side frame memberM and has 7 a column D adjacent to the forward end there- 01, this column corresponding to the hereinabove described column C. The column D therefore includes a channel member 15 which corresponds to the channel member ill and which has a shoe at the lower end thereof that is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the bottom of the pit P. The rear end of the side frame member N is supported by a column Fcomprising a channel corresponding to the channel !9. The member N also embodies two channel iron members '22 and 23 which correspond to the members 16 and [1.

The runways on which an end of an automotive vehicle is supported when work is to be performed on the vehicle are afforded by bridge plates 24 and 25 that are respectively slidably supported above and on the side frame members M and N. The bridge plates are mounted for slidable movement in a manner described presently in order that automotive vehicles having treads of varying widths may be associated with my novel apparatus. In the art to which the present invention pertains, the'tread of an automotive vehicle is understood to be the distance between the vertical center plates of opposite wheels of the vehicle, such as the wheels at opposite ends of an axle. In Fig. 2 I have shown the bridge plates 24 and 25 in full lines in What may be called the intermediate positions thereof. Each of these bridge plates may be slid along the supports therefor in an outward direction and ultimately into the broken line position thereof shown in Fig. 2. When the the bridge platesis disposed in the innermost position thereof, then an automotive vehicle having a tread of only forty inches in width may be supported'on the runways. It will be understood that the bridge plates 24 and 25 may be disposed in any positions intermediate the outermost and innermost positions so as to thereby be disposed in a position to have opposite wheels of a vehicle respectively passed thereonto preferably substantially midway between the side edges of each of the plates. y

The bridge plate 24 is supported for sliding movement by the angle irons 2e and 30, Fig. 4. The angle iron 26 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper end of the channel E9, to extend transversely and on opposite sides of this channel. The channelliil is supported from the inner side of a frame generally indicated by 29 that is fixedly supported at the upperend of the column C as will be described presently.

In order to connect the rear end of the bridge plate 24 to the angle iron '26 for slidable movement therealong, an angle iron 2! is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the lower face of the rear marginal portion of the bridge plate 24. The horizontal flange of the angle iron 21 is disposed beneath the horizontal flange of the angle iron 26, as shown in Fig. 3, and desirably adjacent faces of these horizontal flanges are slidingly engaged one with the other. Gussets as 28 are provided to reinforce the angle iron 2?. Another angle iron 3! iswelded or otherwise suitably secured to thelower face of the front marginal portion of the bridge plate 24 and the horizontal flange thereof is disposed beneath the horizontal flange of the angle iron 30 in such a way that the adjacent faces of these horizontal flanges are in sliding engagement one with the other. Gussets as 32 serve to reinforce the angle iron 3|.

When the bridge plate 24 is moved to the aforesaid outermost position thereof, substantially one-half of the horizontal flanges of the angle irons 2'! and 3| respectively remain in engagement with the horizontal flanges of the angle irons 26 and this insures against canting of the bridge plate when the wheel of an automotive vehicle is run thereonto. Likewise, when the bridge plate 24 is moved to the inwardmost position thereof shown in Fig. 8, then again substantially one-half of the length of the, horizontal flanges of the angle irons 2'! and 3| respectively remain in engagement with the horizontal flangesof the angle irons 25 and 30, and this is effective to prevent canting of the bridge plate 24 when the wheel of an automotive vehicle is run thereonto.

The bridge plate 25 is supported by angle irons similar to the angle irons 26 and 30 which are secured to elements of the side frame member N in the manner described hereinabove with reference to the support of the bridge plate 24 by elements of the side frame member M. The bridge plate 25 is also movable on the angle irons supporting the same in the same manner as that described hereinabove with particular referenceto the bridge plate 24.

The frame member 29 that is supported at the top of the column C provides platforms for wheel supporting means and gauges as will be described hereinafter. This frame includes angle iron side frame members 35 and 35, Figs. 5 and 8,. which arearranged to have the horizontal flanges thereof extended in opposite directions. Aehannel iron 3'1, Figs. 5 and 6, extends between the forward ends of the channels 35 and 36 and is suitably welded thereto and affords the. front end memberof the frame 29. Another channel iron 38 extends between and is welded to the channels 35 and 35 at the rear ends thereof and affords the rear end member of the frame 29, the angle iron being welded to this member. As best shown in Fig. 5, the vertical flange of the channel extends across the outwardly disposed face of the channel l3 andthese channels are suitably interconnected, as by being welded one to the other. Likewise, the vertically disposed flange of the channel 36 extendsracross the outwardly disposed face of the channel l4 and these channels are welded or otherwise suitably secured together.

These just described interconnection secure the platf-orm' 29 at the top of the column C.

A carriage 39 is supported for transverse slida'ble movement on the frame 29. This carriage comprises side plates 40 and 4|, Figs. 5 and 8, an end plate 42 that extends between the forward ends of the plates 40 and 4|, and another end a top plate which rests on and which'is .Welded to the upper edges of the plates 40, 4|, ,42 and 43 whereby a platform is provided which is utilized in the manner to be explained presently.

As stated, the carriage 39 is mounted for transverse slidable movement on the frame. 29 and. to this end channel irons R and S are extended between the side plates 40 and 4| substantially midway between the end plate 43 and the brace 44; These channel irons are spaced from the bottom of the plate 56 and these channels are spaced. one

from the other so that the free edges of the horizontal flanges thereof are arranged in spaced apart relation. Thus an open bottom guideway is afforded on the carriage 39 and the head portion 47 of a clamp bolt 48 is disposed in this guideway. 7

Channel irons 50 and 5| extend between and are welded to the side plates 35 and 36 of the frame 29, and these channel irons have the vertically disposed flanges thereof spaced apart one from the other to thereby afford a guide way G. As best shown in Fig. 6, the guideway so afforded is aligned with the open bottom of the guideway afforded by the channel iron members R and 5 so that the body 48 of the clamping bolt may be, passed through the guideway G. A hand wheel" 52 is mounted on the threadedlower end of the bolt 58 and when this hand wheelis run inwardly on the threaded end of the bolt 48 it moves into engagement with the lower ends of the vertical plate 56 of the carriage 39.

flanges of the angle irons 50 and. 5| to thereby be effective through the head-41 to draw the horizontal proportions of the flanges R. ands into engagement with adjacent portions of the horizontal flanges of the channel irons 50 and 5 I. When the hand wheel 52 is tightened in this position the carriage 39 is secured in a selected position on the frame. 29.

The carriage 39 is movable transversely on the frame 20 so that this carriage may be moved into alignment with the bridge plate 24 when the bridge plate has been located in an adjusted position to receive the wheel of a vehicle to be worked upon. In order to permit such movement of. the carriage 39, the hand wheel 52 is withdrawn from engagement with the lower edges of the vertical flanges of the angle irons 5|] and 5| and this frees the carriage 39 to permit movement thereof. into the proper position. The carriage 39 guided in such transverse movement by having the end member 43 thereof engaged with an adjacent face of the angle iron 30 and the end member 42 the vertical flange of the channel 31, asshown in Fig. 6.

When the carriage 39 has been disposed in a selected position the handwheel 52 is tightened. Thereafter the wheel. of a vehicle may be passed over the bridge plate 24 and onto the carriage 39. When the camber and toe-in of the front wheels of an. automotive vehicle are to be adjusted, it is advantageous to rest a turntable as T on the top This turntable may be of the nature of that disclosed in'the patent to Bennett No. 2,250,742, patented July 29, 1941. Such a turntable affords a universal movement in a horizontal plane and this facilitates adjusting the camber and toe-in of the front wheel of a vehicle that is rested on the turntable T.

.As best shown in Fig. 6, the brace 44 is of a greater height than the side and end members 40, 4|, 42, and 43. .A further brace 53 is disposed inwardly of the end wall 42 and is of a height corresponding to the height of the brace 44, as is shown in Fig. 6. A sheet metal plate 54 is disposed on the upper edges of the braces 44 and 53 and this plate is welded to these edges to thereby beretained in position. This plate includes depending flanges that close the space between the plate and between the braces 44 and 53. The plate 54 afiords a support on whicha toe-in gauge or the like maybe mounted when a wheel adjustment is being effected.

The side frame members M and N afford sup- 1 ports for tool beams such as K which are rested on and extended between and beyond the members M and N as shown inFig. 1. These beams may be in the nature of that disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 200,004, filed concurrently herewith. In the drawings I have shown two beams as K, but it will be understood that a greater or lesser number could be employed depending upon the nature of the work to be performed on my apparatus.

Each beam as K comprises a pair of. channel irons .5? and 58 which have the flanges thereof extended in opposite directions. The flat faces of these channels are maintained in spaced apart relation by having a block as 64, Fig. 5, inserted therebetween, one such block being provided at each end of the channels. The blocks as 64 are welded in position whereby the channels 51 and 58 are secured together and the area between adjacent faces of these beamsaffords a toolreceiving space. Thus, as it is understood in the. art, one end of a suitable upright may be extended into the'tool-receiving space to be detachably connected to the beam. A plurality of such uprights may be used and certain of these uprights will engage portions of the frame on which an operation is to be performed and others will afford a support for supplying means such as a hydraulic jack or the like.

In some instances the beams as K will merely rest on the side frame members M and N, but in other instances it will be necessary that the beams be secured against movement relative to the frame members as M and N. This may be effected by utilizing a retaining tool such as that generally indicated by 6% in the accompanying drawings. Each tool as 58 includes an elongated substantially rectangular body 69 having a substantially T-shaped head '52 at one end thereof. The branches of the head 52 preferably include portions extended inwardly toward the main body at so as to thereby provide toe portions, one of which as shown in Fig. 7, may be engaged beneath a flange on a channel iron as it. In order to connect the tool 65 to the beam as K, a pin as -3i is passed through aligned opens ings in the channel members 57 and 58 and through an openingprovided in the body 66 of the 'tool 5t. Then with one of the toe portions engaged with the flange of a channel as 60, a Wedge as 63 is passed between the other toe portionpf the head 62 and the adjacent edge of the beam as K andthis wedge is driven into position whereby the tool til is tightly clamped to both the channel iron as if? and the beam as K to secure the'beam to the side frame mem- In Fig. '7 I have shown one tool 55% in the position designated by X so that it is disposed outwardly'of the member as M; I have shown another tool (is in position Y and this tool is connected to the beam as K in the manner described hereinabove, but in this instance the toe portion of the head 52 of the tool is engaged with a flange of the channel iron if. When the tools X and Y are firmlyclamped to the beam K and the channels it and ii, the beam K is held against movement relative to the side frame members M and N.

It may not always be advantageous to connect two tools as 60 to only one of the side frame members, as is illustrated in Fig. 7, for in some instances it will be advantageousto mount a tool as (it outwardly of the beam N while another tool is mounted in the position X. Such tools, when tightenedin position, are effective to prevent movement of the beam as K relative to the side frame members M and N.

It may be that a tool beam as K will not include openings as 68 through a set of which the pin 5! is passed, as described hereinabove. Hence, provide an opening 54p near the free end of the body 66 and when the toe portion of a head 62 is engaged with the flange of a channel as [6 and the body $5 is passed through the tool-receiving space, then the end portion thereof including the opening 6 310 is disposed above the upper surface of the beam K. A pin as Bl may then be passed through this opening to rest on the upper edge of the beam K. Such a pin when tightened by the driving in of a wedge as 63 will serve the same purpose as the pin lpassed through a set of openings as 68. 1

It has been explained hereinabove that the front wheels of a vehicle may be placed upon the turntables as T respectively associated with V the beams M and N in the manner described hereinabove'. Under such circumstances it may be advantageous to place a beam K directly beneath the axle or other support for such wheels and the beam K shown in full lines at the righthand side of Fig. 3 is disposed approximately in such position. It is possible to move the beam K into such a position because of the overhang of the frame 29 inwardly of the column 0.

Moreover, the frame 29 extends forwardly of the column C so as to thereby provide an overhanging portion, and if it should be desired to work upon the front end of a frame of a vehicle including wheels rested on the turntables T, then a beam as K may be mounted in the broken line position indicated by W in Fig. 3, such beam being rested upon the portions of the side frame members Mand N that extend forwardly of the columns C and D.

The arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings is of sufficient length, as is shown best in Figs. 3 and t, to enable operations to be performed on at least the front half of an automotive vehicle of which the front wheels are disposed on turntables as T or the platform as 39.

When it is necessary to operate on the rear half of an automotive vehicle, then the rear wheels of the vehicle are caused to pass over the bridge'plates 2d and 25 to come to rest on the turntables as T. This enables operations to be performed on at least the rear half of the frame of anautomotive vehicle.

It will be manifest from the foregoing description that I have provided an arrangement which will enable the hereinabove set forth and kin dred objects of this invention to be realized, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but de sire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims:

' I claim: 1. In an apparatus of the kind described, a

pair of spaced apart frame members at least one of which includes a longitudinally extending and horizontally projecting edge portion, a tool beam rested upon and extended transversely between the side frame members for sliding movement longitudinally and transversely thereto, and a retaining member adapted to clamp the beam in a selected position on the frame members, means pivotally mounting said retaining member on said beam at a point adjacent said edge portion, a toe element on the retaining member in position to clampingly engage the underside of said edge portion when said retaining member is pivotally moved theretoward, and another toe element on the retaining member adapted to re ceive a Wedge for wedgingly engaging the underside of said beam to hold the first-named toe element in said clamping engagement.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said beam is formed with a plurality of horizontally aligned openings defining a plurality of selected positions at which said retaining member may be pivotally mounted to said beam, and

in which the retaining member is formed with an opening adapted to be registered with a selected oneof the openings in said beam, said retain- 111g member being pivotally mounted to said beam by a pin passed through said egistered openings.

member includes a pin passed through said retaining member and pivotally mounted on said beam.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of spaced apart frame members at least one of which includes a longitudinally extended flange projecting therefrom in a horizontal plane, a tool beam rested upon and extended transversely between'the side frame members for sliding movement longitudinally and transversely relative to said frame members, a retaining member mounted in said beam for pivotal movement toward and away from a clamping position with respect to said flange, a toe element at one end of the retaining member adapted to clampingly engage the underside of saidflange upon pivotal movement of said retaining member toward said flange, to assume said clamping position, and another toe element on the retaining member configured to receive a wedge for wedgingly engaging the underside of said beam to hold said retaining member in said clamping position at the underside of said flange.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of spaced apart frame members at least one of which includes a flange-like projection extended in a horizontal plane, a tool beam rested upon said frame members for sliding movement transversely and longitudinally relative thereto, and a retaining member adapted to clamp said beam in a selected longitudinal and transverse position on said frame members, said retaining member being mounted 'on said beam for pivotal movement toward and away from a clamping engaging position with respect to flange-like projection, a toe element on the retaining member for thus clampingly. engaging said flange-like projection to hold said beam in said selected position, and another toe element on the retaining member located opposite the first-named toe element and having a wedge-receiving slot being so located and configured, in relation to the underside of said beam, that when the firstnamed toe element assumes'said clampingly engagingposition a wedge may be inserted in said slot to wedgingly engagethe underside of said beam to hold the retaining member in said clamping position. 1

JESS L. ELAM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,777,686 Bagge Oct. 7, 1930 2,070,150 Venzie Feb. 9, 1937 2,233,458 Segre Mar. 4, 1941 2,445,397 'Horton July 20, 1948 2,442,425 Merrill et al. June 1, 1948 

